Would it be worth porting one of the second-stage bootstraps for these systems to reduce the need to figure out how to get a kernel image under 2MB? -- Chris > On Dec 23, 2023, at 10:53 AM, T <bobs%thelibertytree.org@localhost> wrote: > > On Tue, 19 Dec 2023 05:04:00 -0000 (UTC), T wrote: > >> On Thu, 14 Dec 2023 20:33:29 -0500, Aaron B. wrote: >> >>> Trying again with the E30 I have: Replaced the network adapter with an >>> 8-Z having an FRU number per the previous thread; SMS sees it and >>> attempts to boot from it. >>> >>> Through packet capture, I can see (a) it acquiring an address via >>> BOOTP, >>> (b) it contacting the TFTP server, and (c) it correctly downloading the >>> file via TFTP. >>> >>> However it's just stuck on 'Starting software please wait' with no >>> further activity after that. >>> >>> I've tried the GENERIC kernel in the install directory; the kernel from >>> the prep sets, uncompressed; and /usr/mdec/boot from the prep base set. >>> All cause the same behavior. >>> >>> What's the correct file to use? A kernel, or is there a 2nd stage >>> bootstrap to send instead? >> >> I'm not sure about the E30, but I have to use the file sysinst_small.fs >> to get netboot working on my 7248-132 43p. If I try using the GENERIC >> kernel, >> it doesn't work. There seems to be a 2MiB size limit on what loads, if >> it's larger than that, it doesn't boot. > > To add onto this, the 2MiB or less kernel is just needed to bootstrap the > bootloader, it can be stripped down, bare bones since it only needs to be > able to interact with boot devices. The TFTP should be sending what is a > boot disk image to the PReP machine, as found here: > https://cdn.netbsd.org/pub/NetBSD/NetBSD-9.3/prep/installation/floppy/ > > I don't remember if 9.3 sysinst_small.fs works, if it doesn't, you could > probably use one from a previous version release (like 8.2) that generates > a smaller kernel size. I compile a stripped down kernel specifically for > use with the bootloader. > > Once the boot image is loaded, it can then boot a normal GENERIC kernel > and as far as I have seen, there isn't a size limitation affecting the > second stage kernel. >